When you have been searching for a job for weeks already, and nothing has materialized yet, there is a chance that you will grab any opportunity to earn an income right away. Although this may bode well for your immediate financial needs, it is also likely that you are short-changing yourself with regards to your rights as an employee.
Ask any lawyer in Greenwood, Indiana, and you are sure to hear a plethora of laws that were put up to ensure that you get your fair share and fair treatment as an employee. But if you do not have an attorney to educate you about these laws, do not fret because you can learn more about your rights here.
No discrimination
According to U.S. laws, no person should be subject to being hired or terminated based on religion, race, sex or ethnicity. This means that no employer can hire or fire you by simply basing it on their prejudices against your faith, sex, race or ethnicity.
So the next time you feel that a prospective employer is not giving you a chance to prove your mettle in the business all because of your religion, then you can seek legal counsel and air your complaints in the court of law.
No age discrimination
You also have the right to enter employment regardless of your age. If you are already pushing 60, but you think that you can still work, you should be given a chance to apply. No employer has the right to refuse anyone employment based on their age. As long as you are capable of working, you are still employable.
No discrimination against people entering military service
The law also states that people who are called upon by the government to enter military service should be given a chance to return to their place of employment prior to serving in the military granted that they return to civilian life within five years.
So if you are called to serve your country, rest assured that the job you leave behind would still be there for you when you return from active duty.
Minimum wage and overtime pay are mandatory
You should also know that you are entitled to receiving the minimum wage regardless of the nature of your job. This also means that the higher your position is, you should be well compensated for your efforts. As for the overtime pay, it is also your right to be paid overtime if you have accrued more than 40 hours in a work week.
We tend to forget our rights as an employee when we are deep in debt and we need a job to keep us afloat financially. But we should always be vigilant about our rights.
And to better understand your rights as an employee, you should seek legal counsel from lawyers in your local area or do some research online. If you do not protect yourself from employers who tend to bend the rules to their favor, you will end up doing more damage than helping yourself get out of a financial rut.